The first Australian

I have asked all the aussies the same question during my second meeting with them “Do you remember me?”.  Many of them replied “Sorry …I have a bad memory” but I usually remember people and their names forever even though I had met them once.

I have would have met so many people than an average australian meet during their entire life span (Given the population of India & Australia). But why aussies lend to forget people names and their faces even though they meet somebody only once? It is really astounishing for me if somebody replied that they cannot remember me or my name or they cannot recollect the situation where we could had a conversation or meeting.

I have taken up this question and discussed with many of my friends and I am summarizing my views with their opinions here.

1. Australians will remember if you make good impressions during your first meeting

2. Most of them cannot be bothered to remember your face because they don’t want to know you !

3. You are not so important for them so that they can remember

I do not really appreciate few of my friends opinion that aussies have poor memory ! My friend quoted that aussies drop out of uni’s because they cannot remember things so they flunked in exams”.  Ability to remember things is an important attribute for academic achievement but I could not find a solid theory of how memory could be attribute to remember few names and faces !

I give you few of my own experience to explain the above theory !

1)  I was really surprised when an Australian called me and told me the occasion where I met her ! Then to prove that I know her, I told her full name (first name & surname) and I believe that she was suprised about my memory! That girl is my Boss of my volunteer program and I have met her only once !!

2) I helped a lady with her pram when she tried to board the tram with her baby, six months ago. I met her last week in the tram [I was sitting opposite to her ]and asked her how she was doing? She replied that she was good and after few minutes glancing at me she asked me this very irritating question ! “Do I know you? “  . I screamed inside my mind “Holy **** !! How can this lady forget me because I helped her”. I didn’t exasperate but I smiled and narrated her how I knew her !!

She said sorry and sai that ” she had a poor memory !! ” [ Usual reply I get from most of the people].  When she is about to get off, I mentioned her my name and she told me that “She will call me by my name during our next meeting”. I wonder when I would  meet her !!

I cannot really come to conclusion why aussies forget people’s face and names? Any ideas to provoke my thinking…..Leave it as a comment